Activity 1: Who was St Patrick? Visit this site: http://wilstar.com/holidays/patrick.htm and read the article. Look for the answers to these questions. Share your answers with your classmates. 1. Where and when was St Patrick born?
2. What happened to him when he was 16?
3. When did he become a Christian?
4. How long was he a slave?
5. Where did he study and who was his teacher?
6. What did he want to do with his life?
7. Where did he want to go?
8. Who was sent there in his place and how long did he stay there?
9. What experiences did Patrick have in Ireland?
10. How long did he work in Ireland?
11. Where did he go when he retired?
12. When did he die?
13. What legends developed about St Patrick?
14. What is the traditional icon of the day and what does it symbolize?
Using questions 1-14 above, now finish the biography about St Patrick below in your own words. St Patrick was born in Wales in AD 385. He was sold into slavery when he was 16 and became a Christian after he arrived in Ireland... ......................................... ........................................................................................................................................... . Activity 2: What is the history of St Patrick's Day?Visit this site: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/celebration.htm and read the article. Then complete the following sentences.
St Patrick's Day is more of a _ holiday in Ireland.
The first US celebration was in in _.
The parade in _ attracts over a million spectators every year and began in _.
The city of _ colors its river _.
St Patrick's Day celebrates being _ with pictures of _ and _. We _ Irish food and tell Irish ___.
Activity 3: A St Patrick's Day Treasure Hunt – Celebrations around the World
St Patrick's Day is celebrated all over the world. You have 15 minutes to visit these sites and answer the questions about various international celebrations.
...will have cartoon character balloons in the parade?
...is there an exhibition of paintings about Ireland?
...is the river colored green?
...is the Grand Marshall Miss World?
...is the parade on Fifth Avenue?
...is the water in the fountains colored green?
...will there be four nightly processions of different vehicles?
...is there a fundraiser at an Irish pub on February 29th?
Now, summarize for the class how St Patrick's Day is celebrated.
Activity 4: Irish Culture
There are many traditions connected with St Patrick's Day. Visit the links and investigate one of these aspects of Irish culture and report on it to the class. The questions will help you.
BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW. ...........................................................................................................................................
OCTOBER FESTIVALS: HALLOWEEN
HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES: Try the following interactive crossword HALLOWEEN VOCABULARY: STUDY THE WORDS AND MAKE THE
Halloween is celebrated in come countries. The USA is one of them. As you know children of different ages go from one house to another knocking at the door and saying " trick or treat" but of course there are some rules that children must know when they go from one house to another . Read the rules HERE, understand them and play a real SAFETY GAME American children usually play before Halloween.
Are you a good chef? Do you like reading English. Go to this articleand prepare some delicious good dishes for your Halloween party at school. Tell your teacher. I am sure she will love it.
Go to the following site and read the facts about THANKSGIVING. Prepare five questions to do to your partner and we'll check it later in class. Open another tag and use the LONGMAN DICTIONARY if you wnat. If you prefer to use a bilingual dictionary go to wordreference.
THANKSGIVING PUZZLE
A VERY INTERESTING ACTIVITY: IF YOU WANT TO BE A HISTORIAN AND INVESTIGATE ABOUT THE FIRST THANKSGIVING START HERE TAKE YOUR TIME BECAUSE IT IS A BIT LONG ACTIVITY.
1. November 5th is known as Guy Fawkes Day or _-
2. In which year did the conspirators try to destroy the Houses of Parliament?
3. What happened to the conspirators?
4. Why was November 5th made a holiday?
5. Children often ask for a "penny for the guy". What is the guy?
6. Why did the Pagans light fires at this time of year?
Guy Fawkes Fact File
November 5th is known as Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Day. In Britain on November 5th it is the custom to build bonfires (large outdoor fires) and set off fireworks.
The man responsible for Bonfire Night is Guido Fawkes (Guy Fawkes). He was the leader of a group of conspirators who wanted to blow up the British Houses of Parliament on November 5th, 1605.
The 'Gunpowder Plot' was discovered and Fawkes and his accomplices were executed.
Parliament was so happy to be safe that it ordered November 5th to be a holiday. It became the custom to make an effigy of Guy Fawkes and place it on top of a bonfire.
Some children still make effigies of Guy Fawkes, which they call 'guys'.
Before they burn them on bonfires, children show their 'guy' on the street and ask for money, saying "Penny for the guy".
The beginning of November has been a time for bonfire celebrations since prehistoric times. Pagans believed that when the days grew shorter, the sun was leaving them. They lit fires in the sun's honour to persuade it not to go, and to frighten away evil spirits.
There are firework displays all over Britain on the night of November 5th.
During the weeks before Guy Fawkes night, several hundred people (mostly children under 16) have accidents with fireworks.
Each year the cellars of the Houses of Parliament are searched the evening before the opening of Parliament just in case....
This is a famous rhyme about the event:
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot,
There seems no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.
FEBRUARY FESTIVALS: ST. VALENTINE'S DAY
A teacher of English, Isabel Perez has an interesting site where you can find different activities related to St. Valentine's Day.Try this quiz about St. Valentine's.
Let's read the following text and answer the questions.
Video History about St. Valentine
MARCH FESTIVALS: ST. PATRICKS DAY
Activity 1: Who was St Patrick?
Visit this site: http://wilstar.com/holidays/patrick.htm and read the article. Look for the answers to these questions. Share your answers with your classmates.
1. Where and when was St Patrick born?
2. What happened to him when he was 16?
3. When did he become a Christian?
4. How long was he a slave?
5. Where did he study and who was his teacher?
6. What did he want to do with his life?
7. Where did he want to go?
8. Who was sent there in his place and how long did he stay there?
9. What experiences did Patrick have in Ireland?
10. How long did he work in Ireland?
11. Where did he go when he retired?
12. When did he die?
13. What legends developed about St Patrick?
14. What is the traditional icon of the day and what does it symbolize?
Using questions 1-14 above, now finish the biography about St Patrick below in your own words.
St Patrick was born in Wales in AD 385. He was sold into slavery when he was
16 and became a Christian after he arrived in Ireland... .........................................
...........................................................................................................................................
.
Activity 2: What is the history of St Patrick's Day? Visit this site: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/celebration.htm and read the article. Then complete the following sentences.
Activity 3: A St Patrick's Day Treasure Hunt – Celebrations around the World
St Patrick's Day is celebrated all over the world. You have 15 minutes to visit these sites and answer the questions about various international celebrations.
Ireland
Dublin - http://www.stpatricksday.ie/cms/events.html/
United States of America
New York City - http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/NYC/newyorkcity.htm
Chicago - http://www.chicagostpatsparade.com/
Rochester, New York - http://www.rochesterparade.com/CalendarFrameSet.htm
Savannah, Georgia - http://stpats.savannahnow.com/
St. Louis, Missouri - http://www.irishparade.org/2004/index.html
Rest of the world
Toronto, Canada - http://www.allirish.ca/topatrick/
Tokyo, Japan - http://www.inj.or.jp/index_e.html
Seoul, Korea - http://www.seoulshamrock.co.kr/Index_eng.htm
Denmark - http://www.stpatricksday.dk/event3.html
In which city...
Now, summarize for the class how St Patrick's Day is celebrated.
Activity 4: Irish Culture
There are many traditions connected with St Patrick's Day. Visit the links and investigate one of these aspects of Irish culture and report on it to the class. The questions will help you.
The Shamrock
How Stuff Works: http://people.howstuffworks.com/saint-patrick3.htm
The Holiday Spot: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/shamrock.htm
The Blarney Stone
The Holiday Spot: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/shamrock.htm
How Stuff Works: http://people.howstuffworks.com/saint-patrick3.htm
Leprechauns
The Holiday Spot: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/shamrock.htm
Irish Blessings and Sayings
The Holiday Spot: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/irish_blessings_and_sayings.htm
Extra Activities
1. Do you think you know a lot about St Patrick's Day? Take this quiz and find out:
The Holiday Spot - http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/quiz.htm
BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW.
...........................................................................................................................................
OCTOBER FESTIVALS: HALLOWEEN
HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES: Try the following interactive crosswordHALLOWEEN VOCABULARY: STUDY THE WORDS AND MAKE THE
Halloween is celebrated in come countries. The USA is one of them. As you know children of different ages go from one house to another knocking at the door and saying " trick or treat" but of course there are some rules that children must know when they go from one house to another . Read the rules HERE, understand them and play a real SAFETY GAME American children usually play before Halloween.
Are you a good chef? Do you like reading English. Go to this articleand prepare some delicious good dishes for your Halloween party at school. Tell your teacher. I am sure she will love it.
NOVEMBER FESTIVALS: GUY FAWKES NIGHT BONFIRE NIGHT BRITISH COUNCIL ACTIVITY WORKSHEET
THANKSGIVING DAY
Go to the following site and read the facts about THANKSGIVING. Prepare five questions to do to your partner and we'll check it later in class. Open another tag and use the LONGMAN DICTIONARY if you wnat. If you prefer to use a bilingual dictionary go to wordreference.ONLINE THANKSGIVING ACTIVITIES
THANKSGIVING PUZZLE
A VERY INTERESTING ACTIVITY: IF YOU WANT TO BE A HISTORIAN AND INVESTIGATE ABOUT THE FIRST THANKSGIVING START HERE TAKE YOUR TIME BECAUSE IT IS A BIT LONG ACTIVITY.
A THANKSGIVING TREASURE HUNT. YOU CAN DO IT IN PAIRS
Thanksgiving Day Text
DECEMBER FESTIVALS: CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS Read it and do the quiz you can see after it to check if you have understood the text.
CHRISTMAS TRADITION QUIZ
CHRISTMAS INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES Quiz on the song
Remember, remember...
Can you complete this rhyme?
- Remember, remember
- The _
1. November 5th is known as Guy Fawkes Day or _-2. In which year did the conspirators try to destroy the Houses of Parliament?
3. What happened to the conspirators?
4. Why was November 5th made a holiday?
5. Children often ask for a "penny for the guy". What is the guy?
6. Why did the Pagans light fires at this time of year?
Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot,
There seems no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.